Barbara Sukowa

For 'Rosa Luxemburg,' I read everything by and about her, but the first time I was stuck in that corset, I got an understanding of her that I'd never had before. ”

I've performed Schoenberg's 'Pierrot lunaire' many times. ”

They wanted me to do movies and television when I was very young, and it was a big temptation, but I really thought the only way I could learn the profession was on the stage. ”

I was very lucky: I started acting in this highly subsidized German theater world, so there was not so much job insecurity. We had great working conditions, long rehearsal times, well paid. ”

I had to read Plato and Kant, and at times I was overwhelmed. But I have always been fearless, and so was Hannah Arendt. She wasn't afraid to speak out when she knew her opinions would not be popular because she believed in the public discourse above all. ”

I could imagine actually being a scientist or a detective, but not a detective who puts his hands into gory, bloody things. But more like someone who figures things out. I like to figure things out. ”

I always feel like I'm an actress. ”

We live in a world where we don't really hear ideas. We just hear propaganda. That's not just boring. It's also very dangerous. ”

In France and other European countries, film stars are more celebrated. In Germany, if we are good at what we do, we are respected but not acclaimed. And, of course, we are not paid like Americans are. ”

I don't think there is such a thing as a German movie star. There are respected actors, but we are not publicized like TV people. ”